Can opener of the nipper type



n I. 2 Aprll 26, 1927. A. C' SCHAEFER l 605 CAN OPENER OF THE NIPPER TYPE Filed June 11. 1925 /f g v .44

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES AUGUST C. SCHAEFER, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

CAN OPENER 0F TIIE NIPPER TYPE.

Application filed June 11, 1925.V Serial No. 36,424.

This invention is intended for use in the opening of cans and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to cut the top of the can out and at the same time leave the inside of the 'can with a smooth even surface, with the cut portion left in intimate contact with the side walls of the can.

A further object of my invention consists in a can opener of the nipper type of simple construction, made of but few parts, and one that may be easily operated by those unskilled in the use of a can opener.

A further object of my invention, consists in a new and novel means vof cutting the head from the can, wherein the hand `of the operator is removed from the can and does not come into intimate contact with the cutting surface, and therefore, eliminates the hazard from the cutting or maiming of the hand in the opening of the same.

A further object of my invention consists in the cutting' action beingformed in a 'direct shearing` action, wherein this shearing action is accomplished at a line at pight angles to the application of the cutting orce.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of arts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and to a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one of my can openers of the nipper type, with the same open ready for application upon the can.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fi 1, taken on line 2 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, end view of the mechanism, shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 3-3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, partially sectional side elevation of the cutting head, made in enlarged detail, and is shown ready for the application of the shearing action upon the head of the can, the same being taken on line 1 -4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the shearing head of my new and improved opener, wherein the shearing blade has penetrated through the head of the can and wherein the sheared head neXt the wall surface of the can is left in intimate contact with the sidewalls of the can.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the two head units, shown removed from the manipulating handles.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

My new and improved can opener is made of two handle members 1 vand 2, preferably made of sheet material, which have ylugs ,3 and 4, punched therefrom for the retention of compression spring 5 thereon. The two handle members 1 and 2 are connected by the pivotal pin 6. A contacting and retention head 7 is mounted onthe forward end of the handle 2, and may be reta-ined in position by swaging over the projecting portion of the handle, when passed therethrough, as shown at 8. The contacting head 7 has two outwardly projecting lugs 9 and 10, formed at opposite sides of the same, and said lugs are so formed that the upper apices 11 of the lugs engage the outer rim of the can 12. The height of these lugs is reduced, approximately midway the upper ends or apices 11 andthe lower apices 14 and 15, as shown at 13. The lower apices 14 and 15 are to Contact with the outer wall of the can. v

A shearing head 17 is mounted at the outer `end of the handle member 1,A and may be held in place by the swaging over of a reduced portion of the handle member 1, that is passed through the shearing head as shown at 18. This shearing head is preferably made of spring material. The shearing head 17 has a diagonal shearing blade 19, formed upon the lower side thereof, which has a cutting surface terminating in the penetrating point 20.' The cutting blade v may, preferably be made curved to conform to the curvature of the can to be opened.

A U yshaped hold-down and contacting member 21 is formed at the upper edge of the contacting head 7, and acts as a stop for the upper surface 22 of the shearing head 17, and at the same time it forms a contact with the head of the can and regulates the depth of the cutting movement of the blade through the head of the can. The penetrating point 20, of the cutting head, and the hold-down member 2l, are equidistant from the center line 23, passing vertically through the cutting head. The projecting lugs 9 and i0 are each equidistant from the same center line. This is quite important in the manufacture of my new and improved can opener, for the reason that the shearing action and the holding-down action have a tendency, if one is farther away from the center line than the other, to cause a rotation of the device in the hands of the user. But when the same are equidistant from the center line, a balanced cutting action results, and there is no tendency for the device to rotate in the hand of the operator.

A shearing, when made of spring material, will assume the form shown in the dotted outline in Fig. 2, at 24; and it is this springing action that facilitates the forcing of the sheared edge into intimate Contact with the side wall of the can asV illustrated in Fig. 5, of the drawing.

IVhile` the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted toy fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

What I claimiszl. In a can opener of the nipper type in combination with nipper jaws, of a shearling vblade mounted to the outer end of the upper jaw, a plate mounted to the outer end of the lower jaw; upper and lower forward projecting lugs formed on said plate, the upper lugs to engage the turned over edge of a can, the lower lugs to engage the side wall of the can; and an inverted U shaped element formed on the upper edge of said plate and having one leg thereof extended forwardly to be positioned over the topof the can and to freely engage the top surface thereof as the shearing blade is withdrawn from engagement with the top of the can.

2. In a can opener of the nipper type, in combination with nipper aws normally separated by spring means, of a plate mounted to the outer end of the lower jaw; spaced upper and lower forwardly projecting lugsV formed on said plate, the upper lugs to engage the turned over edge of a can, Athe lower lugs to bear upon the side wall of the can; an inverted U shaped element formed on the upper edge of said plate and having one leg thereof extended forwardly of the other leg; a shearing blade mounted to the outer end of the lower jaw and movable between the legs of said U shaped element;l and the forwardly extended leg of the U shaped element adapted to being positioned over the top of the can to freely engage the top surface thereof as the shear` ing blade is disengaging the `cut made' in the top surface of the can.

3. In a can opener of the nipper type, in combination with nipper aws normally separated by spring means; of a plate mounted to the outer end of the lower jaw; spaced upper and lower forwardly projecting triangular-shaped projections formed on said plate, the upper projections to engage the turned over edge of a can, the lower projections to bear upon the side wall of the can; an inverted U-shaped'member formed on the upper edge of said plate and having one leg thereof positioned forwardly of the other leg; a shearing blade mounted to the outer end of the lower jaw and movably disposed between the legs of said U- shaped member; and the forwardly positioned leg of the U-shaped member adapted to being positioned over the top of a can, and to freely engage the top surface thereof as the shearing blade is disengaged from the top surface of the'can.

AUGUST C. SCHAEFER. 

